the united flight had taken off from houston to newark when the problem developed yesterday. over a 10-minute span, the plane dropped 10,000 feet and slowed drastically. it landed safely in new orleans. and passengers were put on another flight. >>> a week of stormy weather is finally tapering off in the west. but not before a few more hours of drenching rain in northern california. the worst is over for the pacific northwest after the fourth storm in a week brought up to a half-foot of rain and some gusty winds. in oregon, more people lost electricity when falling trees crashed down on power lines. hopefully things will stay calm there. they've paid their dues the last week or so. >>> time, now, for a look at weather across the country on this wednesday. those storms bring showers, though, to portland, seattle, salt lake city and helena. up to a foot of snow in the northern rockies, cascades and sierra nevada. a big cooldown in the midwest. scattered showers and thunderstorms in the carolinas, atlanta and new orleans. >> 50s in the northeast. mostly 40s in the midwest. denve